For this month’s Therapy Tune-Up, we are introducing a health and wellness challenge! It is easy to participate and easy to make progress.

After learning the steps to create your paper art, origami can become a meditative activity to aid in developing your mindfulness practice. You can use any kind of paper in any color or pattern.

Any practice or activity can be improved with increased mindfulness. Helping your mind and body engage eating with more curiosity can help reduce cravings and establish healthier eating habits.

Use household ingredients to make this therapeutic tool for stress relief and strengthening. Many individuals use stress balls as a tool for relief. Putty can be made at home as an alternative for stress relief or other uses such as easing arthritic pain.

Write the story of your life and use the practice of writing for self-affirmation. Writing your life story can have a positive effect on your mental health as well as cognitive functioning. Particularly when focusing on difficult events, writing can help you release feelings of tension while allowing your mind to make sense of chaotic experiences.

Start a new therapeutic hobby and and enjoy the meditative practice of macrame! Practicing macrame utilizes fine motor skills through finger and hand strengthening. Work on improving visual motor skills, hand eye coordination, executive function with sequencing, and stamina.

Learn how to reduce pain from arthritis through visualization and use your mind to help you overcome difficulties. Pain can release stress hormones throughout your body which can cause additional damage. Guided imagery is a way to use a meditative practice to stop your body from releasing stress hormones.

This craft uses fine motor skills to cut, trace and paint if you choose. Work on visual motor skills with tracing and cutting with accuracy, along with hand strength and dexterity to cut and assemble the house. We use our executive functions when following steps of sequencing correctly as well.

Planting a seed and tending to its growth uses fine motor skills with pinching, pouring, and scooping the seeds and dirt. Work on development of language skills to describe the items. This activity includes sensory exploration through different textures, socials skills to communicate and share (if doing with another person). Utilize executive functions through sequencing each step in the correct order.

Nature provides a sensory experience with visual, gross motor, and auditory input. Through the different sights, sounds and textures, balance and coordination through walking on uneven terrain, linguistic skills to name animals or plants that are seen during your walk, this experience has so many therapeutic benefits for all ages.

Some individuals with multiple sclerosis may find it difficult to exercise. Swimming is a great option due to its low impact on your joints, less intense resistance for muscles, and the ease of movement from your body’s buoyancy in water.

Find links between physical and emotional pain, decrease stress, anxiety, or pain, and sleep better with this simple meditation to scan your body each day. Use the habit tracker to keep track of your progress each day you meditate.

Did you know playing board games and card games can aid in stress relief? Start game night at home to work on skills like memory, processing, socialization, cognitive skills, fine motor skills, and benefit from stress reduction while playing.

Practice mindful breathing with shapes! Promote inner peace and reach the “rest and digest” mode with these therapist recommended breathing practices. Simply follow the patterns detailed on the shapes to start your practice.

If your body is not used to working out regularly, suddenly engaging in rigorous physical exercise can be dangerous for your heart. Keep heart health in mind by making sure you are getting the exercise your body needs in a safe way.

Follow the positions to improve core strength even with limited mobility. Everyone can improve their core strength without getting on the floor or standing. Start with these simple positions and increase complexity as you grow stronger.

Feel secure and inspired! When we feel good about ourselves we tend to have better and more positive relationships with others; we also engage in activities with a desire to accomplish more. With good self-esteem, you are more likely to take care of yourself and have the motivation to overcome obstacles.

This Winter Wellness Challenge is designed for adults who want to cultivate healthy habits and foster a sense of well-being during the cold winter months. The challenge encourages participants to track and engage in wellness-focused activities each day, using a downloadable habit tracker/bingo card to stay accountable.

Participate in a year-end reflection to help you recognize your own strengths or weaknesses, accomplishments, positive memories or things you did, lessons learned, or new skills gained. This self-improvement tool helps you see what you want to do better and set goals for the future year.

This form of yoga can be done while sitting in a chair. For those with limited mobility it can be easier and much more manageable. The practice of yoga can help us alleviate pain and so much more.